Heidelberg
Heidelberg's crime rate of 228 per 1,000 residents is strikingly high for a suburb with IRSAD decile 9 and household incomes at the 75th percentile. The explanation lies in the Austin Hospital and Heidelberg station precinct: justice procedures (763 offences) and property crimes (589) are inflated by foot traffic and institutional activity rather than residential risk alone. House prices grew 79.5% from $772,500 in 2013 to $1,387,000 (4.3% CAGR over 14 years), though the latest quarter shows a 15.3% decline from the $1,637,300 peak, the largest correction in this analysis.
Population
7,360
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,012/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
7
Median House
$1.4M
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price of $1,387,000 (Apr-Jun 2024) sits 15.3% below the $1,637,300 peak, creating a potential entry window. Monthly mortgage repayments of $2,150 consume 24.7% of income, below stress levels. Housing is split: 42.5% detached houses and 40.8% apartments, an unusual near-parity reflecting the Activity Centre Zone around Heidelberg station. Bedrooms distribute broadly (37.5% two-bedroom, 31.5% three-bedroom, 18.5% four-plus), offering options across household types. The 12.6% vacancy rate requires careful consideration, as it affects both resale and tenant availability.
For Buyers
The median house price of $1,387,000 (Apr-Jun 2024) sits 15.3% below the $1,637,300 peak, creating a potential entry window. Monthly mortgage repayments of $2,150 consume 24.7% of income, below stress levels. Housing is split: 42.5% detached houses and 40.8% apartments, an unusual near-parity reflecting the Activity Centre Zone around Heidelberg station. Bedrooms distribute broadly (37.5% two-bedroom, 31.5% three-bedroom, 18.5% four-plus), offering options across household types. The 12.6% vacancy rate requires careful consideration, as it affects both resale and tenant availability.
For Investors
The 42.5% rental share provides a deep tenant pool, the largest in this analysis. Weekly rent of $400 on $1,387,000 purchase implies a gross yield of just 1.5%. However, the 12.6% vacancy rate is alarming, more than 4 times the balanced benchmark. This combination of low yield and high vacancy makes pure rental investment difficult to justify. The gentrification score of 58 (active) and 1.06% annual population growth suggest long-term capital potential, but 7 DAs in 12 months indicate modest near-term supply change.
Development Activity
Total DAs
12
Last 12 Months
7
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+600.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Heidelberg iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Heidelberg Primary School
Prep-6 · 498 students
St John's School
Prep-6 · 345 students
Our Lady of Mercy College
7-12 · 1175 students
Demographics
University education at 56.8% (26.7pp above the national average) is among the highest outside inner Melbourne. Italian ancestry (807) and Italian language speakers (89) reflect post-war migration heritage. Mandarin (81 speakers), Greek (65), Cantonese (36), and Malayalam (34) add diversity. The 29.3% overseas-born share sits 7.7pp above the national average. Median age of 39 is 1 year below the national figure. Population turnover at 28.2% is high, typical of suburbs with large rental and apartment stock near transport nodes.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
42.5%
Houses
16.7%
Townhouse
40.8%
Apartment
Tenure
The near-equal split between detached houses (42.5%) and apartments (40.8%) is unusual for a Melbourne middle suburb, with semi-detached at 16.7% bridging the gap. Renters at 42.5% match the apartment share, confirming most apartments are investor-held. Outright owners (28.7%) and mortgage holders (28.8%) each account for under 30%. The 12.6% vacancy rate indicates structural oversupply, likely in the newer apartment stock near the station. Prices peaked at $1,637,300 (Apr-Jun 2023), fell to $1,387,000 (Apr-Jun 2024), a correction of 15.3% in 12 months, steeper than the broader Melbourne median decline over the same period.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,150
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$1,086
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
12.6%
Unoccupied
430
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.2%
Couples, no children
5,347
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates at 24.4% (762 workers), driven by the Austin, Mercy, and Warringal hospitals concentrated in the suburb. Professional/Tech follows at 14.4% (450) and Education at 13.3% (417). Professionals lead occupations at 1,631, nearly triple the next category (Managers, 566). Unemployment at 4.5% sits near the national average. The SEIFA IEO decile of 9 confirms strong educational advantage, while the IER decile of 7 suggests economic resources lag somewhat behind, possibly because healthcare workers' incomes do not match their qualification levels.
Unemployment
2.5%
Labour Force
10,054
Unemployed
247
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.4%
Part-time
29.1%
Participation
62.4%
Employed
3,656
Occupations
Top Industries
University
56.8%
Postgraduate
19.0%
Born Overseas
29.3%
Dwellings
2,985
Transport to Work
Three schools serve the suburb: Heidelberg Primary (Government, ICSEA 1,141, 498 students), St John's School (Catholic, ICSEA 1,129, 345 students), and Our Lady of Mercy College (Catholic secondary, ICSEA 1,111, 1,175 students). All score 100+ points above the national benchmark. Public transport usage at 9.2% reflects Heidelberg station access, while 16.6% walk or cycle, well above the national average. Crime at 228 per 1,000 is elevated, dominated by justice procedures (763) and property offences (589), likely institutional rather than residential.
Drive
69.9%
Public Transport
9.2%
Walk / Cycle
16.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.06%/yr
(+182 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation is forecast to grow from 17,224 (2025) to 17,595 by 2031, at 1.06% annually (182 persons/year). Growth is driven by overseas migration (+274/year net), supplemented by internal migration (+120/year). The suburb recovered fully from a 3.2% COVID dip. Gentrification score of 58 (active) reflects real income growth of 41.0% over the decade, working-age share increase of 4.5pp, and improving affordability (mortgage-to-income fell from 55.4% to 45.1%). Growth accelerated from 6% to 16% per period, indicating the suburb is in a densification phase. This rate ranks above the Melbourne median growth rate for established middle-ring suburbs.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+274
Net Internal / yr
+120
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +23% since 2011, Net internal migration +120/yr, Strong overseas inflow +274/yr, Accelerating: 6% → 16%, COVID recovered (-3% dip → full recovery)
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,678
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
228.0
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Heidelberg compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Heidelberg a good suburb to live in?
Heidelberg offers strong schools (all 3 above ICSEA 1,100), 9.2% public transport usage via train, and IRSAD decile 9 (top 10% nationally). Trade-offs include a 228 per 1,000 crime rate (inflated by hospital precinct activity), 12.6% vacancy, and house prices 15.3% below their 2023 peak.
What is the median house price in Heidelberg?
The median house price is $1,387,000 (Apr-Jun 2024), down 15.3% from the $1,637,300 peak in Apr-Jun 2023. Over 14 years, prices grew 79.5% (4.3% CAGR) from $772,500 in 2013. Monthly mortgage repayments of $2,150 consume 24.7% of household income, below stress levels.
What schools are in Heidelberg?
Heidelberg has 3 schools: Heidelberg Primary (ICSEA 1,141, 498 students), St John's School (Catholic, ICSEA 1,129, 345 students), and Our Lady of Mercy College (Catholic secondary, ICSEA 1,111, 1,175 students). All score at least 111 points above the national benchmark of 1,000.
Is Heidelberg safe?
The recorded crime rate is 228 per 1,000 residents (1,678 total offences). Justice procedures (763) and property crimes (589) dominate, largely inflated by the hospital and station precinct. Residential streets are likely safer than this rate implies. SEIFA IRSD decile 9 indicates very low disadvantage.
Is Heidelberg good for property investment?
Gross yield of 1.5% ($400/week on $1,387,000) is weak, and 12.6% vacancy is a major red flag. Prices fell 15.3% from peak, which could represent a buying opportunity or continued correction. The 42.5% rental share provides tenant depth, and 1.06%/year population growth adds long-term demand. High risk, long-term play.
How is Heidelberg's population changing?
Population is forecast to grow from 17,224 to 17,595 by 2031 at 1.06% annually. Overseas migration (+274/year) and internal migration (+120/year) both contribute. Growth accelerated from 6% to 16% per period, and gentrification score of 58 (active) reflects real income growth of 41.0% over the decade.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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